How and When To Cleanse Tarot Cards or Oracle Cards? 11 easy ways

Millions of people in the world turn to tarot reading whenever they are looking for some guidance or support.

After all, a tarot reading can provide you with lots of benefits such as deep insights into a matter that’s been troubling you and show you the way forward.

It can even tell you about the potential outcomes of your decisions or your current path.

Needless to say, the popularity of tarot cards has surged in the past. People from all walks of life are beginning to integrate them into their daily lives.

While this is all great, you should be aware of the different ways you could use your cards.

For one, it is essential to do a cleansing of the tarot deck each time you want to use it.

And if you’re borrowing a tarot deck from someone or buying a used deck, it is even more important to thoroughly cleanse the cards.

Why Do Tarot Cards Need Cleansing?

Well, everything around us is exuding energy.

That includes you, me, the plants, your dog, your cat, your goldfish, the ground, the planets, and everything else in existence.

Now, when you use a deck of cards for a particular reading, the cards can contain and store your unique energies for a long time.

This energy can remain there for weeks or even months, maybe more…..

So, when you do another reading with those cards without cleansing them, you might not get accurate readings.

After all, the energies from the previous reading are still there and might be interfering with the results.

It’s similar to how you need to wash your hands before every meal. ( yep, my parents were quite strict about that haha)

When Should You Cleanse Your Cards?

So, you might be wondering exactly when you should cleanse your cards.

Well, it’s not that hard to figure out.

Once you get the hang of how energy works, you will do it instinctively.

Until then, you can keep the following situations in mind when you need to cleanse your cards:

1) When You First Buy Your Deck

Think about the journey of your deck of tarot cards from the moment the manufacturing process starts till the moment you have it in your hands.

Along the way, the cards pass through so many things, places, and people.

Naturally, it picks up on all those energies. This energy tends to stick around for a long time.

And it can definitely interfere with your readings. So, as soon as you get your deck of cards, make sure you cleanse it thoroughly.

2) After Someone Else Has Used It

If you have friends or family members who are into tarot and want to borrow your deck for a reading, or if your curious loved ones just happen to pick them up to learn about them, you need to cleanse your cards after they are done.

Again, tarot cards can contain the energies of the people (or other living beings) they come in contact with.

So, before you can use them in any way, you should cleanse them properly.

If you want to avoid this, you should make sure no one touches your deck. I admit there are some decks I prefer to keep it for myself haha.

3) If You Have Traveled With It

A lot of readers love to travel with their tarot cards in their bag. ( check our article about where and how to store your tarot cards here)

This allows them to use their cards to get insights into any situations or new people they come in contact with.

It also gives them the opportunity to do readings for people when they are on the move.

So, when you come back home, you should naturally cleanse your deck of cards.

Who knows what energies they might have picked up from other people and places throughout the trip?

4) If The Connection Feels Off

Tarot reading requires you to connect with the cards on a subtle level.

But sometimes, this connection may feel off.

If you have ever been around your friend who is angry with you, you feel a certain tension in the air even if they don’t say anything.

This is because energy has its own way of communication.

I believe that the same can happen with your tarot cards.

Sometimes, they just feel off. If this is the case, you need to cleanse them so that things can be right again.

You could also go take a bath to ensure that your own energies are not interfering with the process.

5) Every Time You Want To Do A Reading

This is something that all tarot readers will tell you.

In order to do the most accurate readings, it is ideal that you do a proper cleansing of the cards first.

You don’t always need to do the longest forms of cleanses (more on that below).

Some methods can be done rather quickly and take minimum time and effort. You can use these methods if you are in a hurry.

11 Ways To Cleanse Your Tarot Cards

Now that it is clear why you need to cleanse your cards and when, let’s take a look at all the ways you can actually do that!

Remember, you don’t need to do each one of them. these are some the methods that I use and some by other tarot readers.

You can pick just one or a couple of methods that you like the most. 🙂

1) Elemental Cleansing

Elemental cleansing refers to the cleansing done with the help of the four elements, one after the other. This one is not the most practical method but I know some swear by it.

These four elements are water, earth, fire, and air.

First, you need to arrange the tarot cards in order and then pack them in a waterproof container or bag. ( a plastic bag is perfect 🙂 )

You need to make sure that they won’t get wet during this process. Then, simply place this container under running water for 15-20 minutes.

Then, take the same container and bury it under the ground in your garden or backyard.

If this is not possible for you, you can also take some soil and put it in a large vessel. Then, you can place your container in that vessel. We will need to leave the cards here overnight. So, the next step will be done the next morning.

The third element cleansing involves fire. But don’t worry. You don’t need to set up a campfire for this. A simple candle will work just fine. You can start by taking each card and wafting it over the candle’s flame for 2-3 seconds. Make sure you don’t burn your deck in the process!

Finally, you need to clean the deck with the air element. To make this step more effective, you can use an incense stick or clary sage. No matter what you’re using, just make sure the smoke engulfs each and every card. Let the cards soak the smoke completely for a few minutes.

Note: some people skip the candle step as the sage step can be considered as cleansing with fire and air element….. do what is best for you 🙂

2) Placing Them Under The Full Moon

In the world of spirituality, the full moon has a special significance.

It is said that during a full moon night, it releases powerful healing energy. This energy can help you clear the old and make way for the new.

As such, it only makes sense to use it to cleanse your tarot card.

For this purpose, you can place your cards on the window sill or out in the garden (if it won’t rain later).

You can cover them with a net or some other transparent material so that they won’t get blown away by the wind. Also, you need to leave your cards for the whole night and collect them early in the morning.

This method works really well but the only downside here is that you need to wait almost a month to be able to use the energies of the full moon.

Also, if you’re not able to track the various phases of the moon by yourself, you can use an astronomy app for the same.

3) Giving Them A Proper Sunbath

This is similar to the previous step.

Only here, we will use the immense and powerful energies of the sun.

If you didn’t already know, the sun is considered a cleanser of energy in spirituality.

This is why so many people in eastern countries often hang those clothes in the sun that they haven’t worn for a long time.

They do this to cleanse the clothes of any unwanted energy.

So, we can use this process to cleanse the tarot cards as well. All you need to do is place your cards under direct sunlight. This could be inside your home or outside. Just make sure that they remain exposed to the sunlight for 1-2 hours. Do not keep them exposed for too long, otherwise, they might lose their color.

This process will restore the natural vibrations of the cards and make them feel brand new!

4) Use Crystal Healing

Crystals have been in use since ancient times due to their incredible healing energies.

Different crystals are used for different purposes and so, you need to know which crystal you can use for your particular purpose.

To cleanse old energies, some of the most effective crystals are clear quartz, black tourmaline, black obsidian, selenite, shungite, etc.

To start, you need to choose and get the crystal you like the most.

Then, all you need to do is place your crystal on top of your deck and leave it there for a few hours.

If you can, you can leave the crystal there overnight or until your next reading. This will ensure thorough cleansing.

If you use something like clear quartz, this crystal will also work to amplify the vibrations of the tarot cards. This will make for a much more effective tarot reading in the future.

5) Knocking On The Deck

Have you ever knocked on wood for good luck?

Or to protect yourself from the evil eye?

Well, there might be a reason why people started doing this in the first place.

Knocking with intent is said to remove negative energies from an object. Naturally, you can use this to cleanse your tarot cards as well.

All you need to do is take your tarot deck and place it in your non-dominant hand. Then, with your dominant hand, knock three times on the cards as if they were doors. While you’re doing this, imagine any stale energies leave the deck.

You can use this method if you’re in a hurry and need to cleanse your cards quickly. It will become even more effective if you use it in conjunction with one other method mentioned in this article.

6) Use A Singing Bowl

Singing bowls have been used extensively in many different eastern cultures of the world.

They are said to bring about healing and cleansing of the system thanks to the bowl vibrations.

This is precisely why sound baths using singing bowls have become so popular lately.

To use this method to cleanse your tarot cards, you need to first arrange for a Tibetan singing bowl.

You can then place your cards near your bowl ( I usually hold the bowl juts a few inches above the deck) and then start playing it.

To do this, you can place the bowl in your non-dominant hand and hold the mallet in your dominant hand. then, you strike lightly the bow external side 3 times and imagine all the negative energies of the deck being sent to the unvierse to be recycled….

Note that instead of striking the bowl you can circle the rim with the mallet in a clockwise motion. This will produce healing sounds, which will cleanse your cards.

Playing the bowl for a few minutes should do the trick.

7) Meditate And Visualize

Meditation is a potent spiritual practice that can not only cleanse your whole system but also purify the environment where you meditate.

Obviously, this means that it can be used to cleanse your tarot cards as well!

If you want to use this technique, one way is to to sit down in a cross-legged posture on a yoga mat or a cushion. Then, place your deck of cards in front of you. Look at them once and then close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths and try to achieve a calmer state of mind. With each relaxation, feel more peaceful within yourself.

After a few minutes, visualize a golden stream of light descending from the heavens and landing right on the deck of cards.

Visualize this light dissolving and disintegration any stale energies in the cards.

When you’re done, open your eyes slowly. The tarot deck or oracle card deck is ready 🙂

8) Pack The Cards With Bay Leaves

In many cultures of the world, it is believed that bay leaves can ward off evil spirits.

As such, you can use them to cleanse your cards as well.

To begin, you can place your cards in a bag. Then pack as many bay leaves as you can inside the bag. Leave it for a few hours and take your cards out.

Also, remember to throw away the bay leaves since they now contain old and potentially negative energies. Obviously, do not use them for cooking! Give them back to Mother earth who will recycle them.

9) Use Sea Salt

Salt is considered one of the most purifying agents when it comes to bad energies.

In eastern countries, many people take a salt bath regularly to wash off any negative energies in their aura.

Needless to say, salt makes for a great way to cleanse your tarot cards. My favorite is himalayan salt, I feel it has a special energy to it… my favorite brand is this one on amazon HERE.

You can start by placing your tarot cards in any container you see fit. Then sprinkle some himalayan sea salt all around the cards. Make sure you properly engulf them with salt.

Cover the container and keep it away for 24 hours. Your cards will be totally cleansed and ready for use!

Again, make sure you throw this salt away since it now contains all the bad energies from the cards. Do not use it for cooking!

10) Reiki

Reiki is an ancient energy healing system that makes use of the fundamental life force energy of the universe to remove or deal with stale/negative energy.

Typically, it is used by Reiki practitioners to heal their patients of various ailments.

However, you can also use it to cleanse your tarot cards.

Of course, in order to use this method, you need to be trained in Reiki. If you are, you will most probably already know what to do. Just channel the life force energy through your hands and remove any bad energies from the cards.

I believe even if you are notre trained in Reiki, you can still use this method as I personally think the key is your intention. Just imagine your “energy” coming from your hands as some light wiping away the negative energies of the deck…..

11) Blow On The Cards

Your breath can be a powerful tool if you know how to use it properly.

If you have ever since people blow on dice in a dice-based game, then you’ve already seen this in action.

It is believed that blowing on something removes negative energy from it and enhances your good luck. ( maybe brush your teeth first to avoid bad breath? haha just joking lol.

Naturally, you can use this technique to cleanse your tarot cards.

All you need to do is take your deck of cards in your dominant hand and blow gently over the cards. As you do this, visualize any unwanted energy leaving the deck.

Of course, make sure there is no one in front of you while you are doing this haha.

12) Try Mantra Chanting

Mantras are sacred words, phrases, or sentences that are repeated over and over again.

There are specific mantras that are designed to help you achieve something specific.

For instance, some mantras are designed for peace, some mantras are designed for manifestation, some are designed to improve your health, and so on.

To cleanse your cards, you can use the most popular and powerful mantra, “Om.”

Simply place your deck of cards in front of you, and start chanting Om for a few minutes.

As you do this, visualize the power of the mantra entering the cards and removing any unwanted energy from it.

As simple as that 🙂